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PITTSBURGH—PNC Financial Services Group Inc.'s third-quarter net income fell as the regional bank made less money from loans and deposits and fees and charges. The year-ago results also included a hefty gain tied to a sale.

The Pittsburgh bank said Wednesday that its net income fell to $826 million, or $1.55 per share, for the three months ended Sept. 30. That's down from $1.09 billion, or $2.07 per share, a year earlier.

The prior-year period benefited from a $328 million, or 62 cents per share gain, related to the sale of PNC Global Investment Servicing.

The results surpassed the earnings of $1.50 per share that analysts polled by FactSet predicted.

PNC Financial's provision for loan losses -- money set aside to cover souring loans -- dropped to $261 million from $486 million. Further signs of improving credit included declines in nonperforming assets and net charge-offs, or loans written off as uncollectable.

The company's third-quarter tax rate was 27 percent, compared with 18.8 percent a year earlier. PNC Financial said the lower rate in the year-ag period was mostly due to a tax benefit related to a favorable IRS letter ruling that resolved a prior tax position.